The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine will require two hours of implicit bias training for all licensed physicians, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Vermont. 

• Massachusetts: The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine will require two hours of implicit bias training for all licensed physicians, effective June 1. Under the policy, physicians who apply for initial licensure and license renewals will be required to meet a continuing education requirement of two hours of training on implicit bias in health care. The training will address attitudes surrounding gender, race, ethnicity, and culture. The Board of Registration in Medicine "recognizes the importance of eliminating racial and ethnic inequities that lead to health disparities in Massachusetts," according to a November 2021 news release. "Implicit bias among healthcare providers is one factor that perpetuates these disparities." Currently, seven other states require similar trainings on implicit bias or cultural competency. (Gooch, Becker's Hospital Review, 4/25)

• Missouri: Centene Corporation on Tuesday announced plans to reduce its U.S. leased real estate space as part of its "value creation plan." During the Covid-19 pandemic, over 90% of the company's workers have worked remotely. Last year, the company also increased its permanent and hybrid remote work options after its employees voiced positive feedback. During the company's Q1 earnings call, CEO Sarah London said the plan to cut over half its leased space followed those trends. "Given our commitment to increased work from home and flexible work models we are in the process of determining the necessary square footage to support our employees moving forward and anticipate a significant downsizing of our current leased space," London said. "Though there will be a one-time cost to this, which we will frame for you in Q2, the run rate benefit will be a nice contributor to our value creation goals," said Centene president and COO Brent Layton. (Tepper, Modern Healthcare, 4/26)

• Vermont/Kentucky: Northwestern Medical Center (NMC) on Tuesday announced the departure of CEO Dean French, who is leaving his role to become CMO of ScionHealth. French, who stepped into his role as NMC's CEO in late 2020, will depart in August. "Prior to the hiring of Dr. French, NMC went through a very broad and thorough process of defining what NMC should be," said NMC board president Jake Holzscheiter. "That led to a strategic focus on improving safety, quality and financial sustainability. Great work has been done and our direction remains unchanged." (Gooch, Becker's Hospital Review, 4/26)